William smith



WILLIAM SMITH, CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 82,360, dateaZ'September 22, 1868.

IMPROVED FOLDING TABLE.

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TO WHOM I T MAY CONQERN:

Bye it known that I, WIL'LIAM SMITH, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, 0h10, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tables; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification.

This invention relates tofthat vclass of tables whose legs are capable of being folded up so as'to economize space in transportation and 'in crowded apartments; and my invention consists more particularly in certain devices for facilitating the unfolding and folding of the legs, and also for retaining them securely in their opened position. t

The accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a table embodying my improvement, the table being ln an inverted position, and having one pair of legs secured in opened position, while the otherpair is represented as partially folded up.2 v

A represents the table-top, to whose under side are binged,at a, two frames, consisting of upper rails, B G, and lower ones, D E, while tlielegs F of the table are secured Vto the en'ds of these'rails. i

G are braces, whose lower ends are hinged to the bottom rails, at d al and e e', while the upper ends of said braces are hinged :.t g to the slides H, which slides are adapted'to traverse grooves'I, thelatter being formed by the cleats z', that age attached to the under' side of the table-top. As these cleats. are under-cut, and the slides are of corresponding' shape, there is no danger of said slides becoming detached 'from the grooves I.

The grooves I have secured within them stops' J, against whichthe slides H abut, when the legs F are in their opened position. K are ordinary springbolts, which protrude and bear against the inner ends of the slides H, and thereby prevent the accident-alA displacement of the legs F when theyareunfolded, as shown `in the drswin g.

rails D E, and elevating the Vsame,.which causes the slides H to traversev the grooves I, and as soon as said'slides When it is desired to use the table, the legs can'be unfolded in amoment, by simply grasping the bottomcome `in contact with the stops .Ithe spring-bolts K immediately ily out in the rear of the slides,' and thus' secure the legs in their opened position, and in such a manner as to prevent their being accidentally displaced incase they should be struck by a person in passing the table. l v

The legs can be folded up by retracting the springbolts, and pressing down'. upon the rails D E, so as to cause said legs to assume the position shown at lthe nearest endof the table `in the drawings, andwhenin this condition, a number ot" tables can be stacked one upon another,'thereby economizing room, and rendering-them capable of being transported with the greatest facility, and' without any danger of breaking o the legs or .warring the table-tops. I I

If preferred, suitable notches can be made in the sida of "the braces Gr, so as toreceive the spring-bolts K 1when the legs are completely folded up.` f' v For paper-hangers, marketmen, and other who desire a very light and portable table, only one of the braces G need befused for each pair of legs, in which case'said braces should be attached to the mid-length-of the `bottom rails D E. i

' I claim herein as ne'w, and of my nventonl v The combination, substantially as described, of the table A, hinged frames a B D E, legs F, hinged braces G g dd e e', slides H, under-cut grooves I z', stops J, andspring-bolts or catches K, or Atheir mechanicalk equiralonta for the object explained. v i

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my;hand. l i i w. SMITH.

Witnesses:

Gao. H. KNIGHT, Jamas H. Layman.'V 

